Sports and Vision

Do you wish you could cut a few strokes off your golf score? Does your child always seem to be just a few steps away from the soccer ball? Having trouble returning your tennis partner's serve? Vision, just like speed and strength, is an important component in sports.

Vision is much more than just seeing clearly. Many interrelated vision skills affect how well you play your sport. Just as exercise and practice can increase your speed and strength, they can also improve your visual fitness and accuracy.

An optometrist with expertise in sports vision can thoroughly assess your unique visual system. He or she can then recommend the proper eyeglasses or contact lenses, or design a vision therapy program to maximize your visual skills for your specific sport.

All athletes, and especially those in certain high-risk sports, need to consider eye protection. Thousands of children and adults suffer sports-related eye injuries each year, and nearly all can be prevented with the proper protective eyewear.

If you participate in an outdoor sport, appropriate sunglasses are a must. Some sport-specific designs may even help you improve your game. Ask your optometrist which type is best suited for your favorite sport.